David Jewell (headmaster)

David Jewell was born in 1934 in Porthleven, West Cornwall, the son of a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force.^[1]

Jewell was educated at Blundell's School and St John's College, Oxford, where he studied chemistry and met his future wife, Katharine.^[1] He then took up his first teaching post as science master at Winchester College. After a brief period working in a state school in Bristol, he returned to the independent sector at the age of 36 as headmaster of Bristol Cathedral School, which he led from direct-grant status to independence.^[2]

Later, he became headmaster of Repton School, a boys' school in England, and was subsequently headmaster of Haileybury and Imperial Service College. He presided over significant changes in both these schools. In 1990 he served as chairman of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference^[2] and as a councillor on Porthleven town council.

Jewell was a firm supporter of direct-grant schools and was influential in campaigning for the introduction of the assisted places scheme .^[2] He was also a committed Anglican Christian.^[2]